((x3 Lola, Shimmerpaw and Flamestrike are going on the border patrol, not the hunting patrol.))

Thunderstar nodded, flicking his tail in acknowledgement, then padding into the warrior's den, looking for Thornclaw. "Thornclaw, I'm taking the dawn patrol with Shimmerpaw and Flammestrike. I'd like to have you and Icepaw come too, and if you see Fallenwind, see if he can go." The tabby leader nodded to the younger warrior, dipping his head out beneath the bracken growth near the entrance of the den. He licked his chest rapidly, where some fur had been sticking up, then licking his paw and swiping it over his face, cleaning that too. There he sat, just to the side of the fresh-kill pile, waiting for the warriors and apprentices he had chosen to gather by him.

Rainpaw followed after the deputy, hastening her step so she could match to older warrior's bigger stride. Being in the front of the patrol had always been a favorite place of the white apprentice, staying to the right of Whitetail where she could hear. Staying near the front ensured that she would be able to catch something before the others, showing off her prowess. Hearing a faint rustle, Rainpaw pricked her mouth open to see if she could smell any prey, then smiling and purring very quietly. Wood mouse. She thought happily, dropping into a hunter's crouch and sliding her paws silently across the moss, approaching the tiny rodent. Once close enough, she tensed her hindquarters, preparing to pounce, then letting her muscles spring her forwards. In the air, the mouse realized his mistake of not hearing the white cat and let out a tiny squeak before Rainpaw dispatched it by snapping it's neck. Thank the stars, the noise her prey had made was too small for any other prey to hear, and the apprentice walked back to the others with her tail held high, looking for a spot to bury her kill. Spotting an old tree, she scored out a shallow hole to hold her mouse until the patrol returned, covering it with leaves to mask the scent from a fox or badger.

Flamestrike nodded to Shimmerpaw and set off to follow the patrol. He spotted Icepaw next to Blizzardpaw at the apprentices den. He motioned for Shimmerpaw to follow the patrol and trotted over. "Icepaw, I believe Thunderstar ordered you on patrol with your mentor, Thornclaw." He said and Icepaw blinked. "Sure thing, Flamestrike. I haven't seen him all day. Thanks for letting me know," She said and shoved the rest of her mouse toward Blizzardpaw and followed Flamestrike. "Tell Thornclaw I joined the patrol," She called over her shoulder to Blizzardpaw.

--

Emberfur had just wanted to finish checking on the sick cats. She had to give Frostwing more herbs for her belllyache and she had gotten caught up with her work, forgetting Thunderstar had been waiting for her. When he yowled for the patrol to set off, she felt bad for leaving him alone, but her duty was to sick cats. She only hoped the news was something that could wait.

((Whoops, sorry Winter.

Also, I'm leaving this weekend for about five days.  I should be back around the 30th.  I'll be going to a pretty remote place, so I highly doubt that I'll be able to log on.  I would very much appreciate it if we kept posting to a minimum while I'm offline.

I'll see you all when I get back!

~Lola))

Whitetail purred as he saw Rainpaw's catch.

"Good job, Rainpaw," he congratulated her, before he suddenly stopped.

The faint tremors in the earth told him larger prey was near by.  He scented the air carefully before realizing a rabbit was somewhere nearby.  Silently, he left the patrol.  Rounding a bush, he saw a mother and her young.  He lowered himself into a hunting crouch before beginning to stalk them.  A few tail-lengths before he could pounce, though, his white fur flashed in the sun and gave the two a warning.  They were off, bounding through the undergrowth liek the whole Clan was after them.  Whitetail chase, leaping for the mother, but missing.  A little bit up ahead, he saw the baby trip.  Whitetail lunged and caught the young rabbit, leaving the mother to flee.

He padded back to the patrol, a bit embaras.sed by his lack of a good catch.  He buried the baby rabbit by Rainpaw's mouse before leading the patrol further into the forest.

[[ugh. thought i posted sorry.]]

Emberfur finished checking over the sick cats. Frostwing had finally drifted off into sleep and she grabbed the leftover herbs in her jaws. She quickly set the bundle down and distributed the leaves and seed into neat piles. When she was finished with that, she washed her paws off, removing the scent of the herbs that seemed to alwasy cling to her pelt. She then padded into her den by walking around a narrow bend in the rocks. "What is it that you need my a.ssistance?" She asked him and sat down, curling her tail between her paws.